SCHOOLS: Face the facts

Bamboozle: To fool or cheat someone. Let me explain.

Recently School District 271 hired an agency to come in and evaluate the district. For $50K, the report was a scathing account. The results were in the paper. As a result, our superintendent created events for the public where input would be heard — as if the public would be asked to “help.” I participated.

The format took the shape of an in-service training for teachers, much like I saw as a public school teacher. Participants saw soothing footage of cute kids and their thoughts about school and their futures.

Next came a walk-through of types of desired societal attributes in the form of another video. Eventually, we broke into groups — strangely familiar to a teachers’ in-service. Each group agreed upon desired goals, as if writing them on a blackboard makes them happen. Most of the participants were from District 271. No Coeur d’Alene Board members were present.

Absolutely no mention was made about the connection between this event and the scathing report about our schools. Massive opportunity LOST. But, in the world of public schools, that event filled some square that is supposed to satisfy the public’s desperate need for “hustle” to improve our Coeur d’Alene public schools.

Is it rude to point out being bamboozled? No, I don’t think so. What is rude is to try to use a lethargic “educationeze” process designed to confuse the public into thinking that those events did something to improve our Coeur d’Alene public schools. No amount of endless levies and bonds will improve our public schools — only real leadership can.

Mr. Superintendent, solve those issues clearly documented by unnecessarily spending $50K. That is your job!

RONALD DEADY

Coeur d’Alene